Photographic flash bulb socket



KENlCHl KAWATE PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH BULB SOCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENT OR.

KENICHI KAWATE BA ATTOQNEY Jan. 5, 1960 Filed oct. 11, 1957 Jan. 5, 1960 Kr-:NlcHl KAwATE 2,920,301

PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH BULB socmr Filed oct. 11, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INV ENT OR.

KENICHI KAWATE A TTORAEY United States Patent 0 This invention is concerned with a novel socket for use with a photographic flash gun. More particularly,

this invention is concerned with a dual ash bulb socket which can either be used with a llash bulb having the large diameter base, 4usually of thebayonet type, or one having a small diameter base, usually with a circumferential rib or groove in the base. The objective of this invention is to make it possible to use either the bayonet base or the small base iiash bulb selectively without the use of a separate adapter. Furthermore, the improved llash bulb socket of the present invention provides for a single eject button which is used with either type flash bulb, making it unnecessary to have` a separate ejector button for each type of bulb.

In the novel flash bulb socket of the present invention the socket is equipped with a large diameter bayonet-base socket and a smaller diameter socket which is movable to the rear of the large socket, `and having means to hold the small diameter socket forward in the mouth of the large diameter socket when the small base bulb is to be used, while allowing the small diameter socket to l:move back into the large diameter socket when the socket is to be used With a bayonet base bulb.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following speciiication,

claims and drawings, of which:

Figure l is a side view of the flash bulb socket of this invention together with a portion of a ash gun,

Figure 2 is a |vertical cross-section view of the apparatus of Figure 1, j

Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is' a rear view of the socket portion taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 Vis a view of the vertical cross-section of Figure 2, showing a bayonet base flash bulb in position in the flash bulb socket, and

Figure 6 is a view of the vertical cross-section of Figure 2, showing a small base flash bulb in position in the ash bulb socket.

Referring speciiically'to Figure 2, the reference numeral 10 designates the main body of a flash gun. The reference numeral 11 designates the large diameter socket body which is provided with annular walls defining the opening 12 which opening can be seen more clearly in the front View of Figure 3. This large diameter opening is the bayonet-,base socket adapted to receive a bayonet base'ilash bulb. The annular walls of this opening 12 are provided at the bottom thereof with a bayonet positioning groove 13 which is adapted to receive one ofv the bayonet extrusions on the base of the bayonet flash bulb. In this manner, groove 13 aligns the bulb so -that'the other of the bayonet extensions of the bulb coopvsocket body which is a cup-shaped member provided with a central opening identified by the reference numeral 15. Here again, this can be seen more clearly in the front Patented Jan. 5, 1960 view of Figure 3. The opening in this member is adapted to receive the base of the small base type ash bulb.

Both the large diameter socket 11 and the small diameter socket 14 are constructed of insulating material so as to electrically insulate the center contact button on the bottom of the ilash bulb base from the metallic outer sleeve of the ilash bulb base.

Electrical contact with the center contact button on the flash bulb base is made by means of a metallic con tact member or pin 16. This'pin 16 is freely mounted and extends through an opening 17 provided in the bottom of the cup-shaped member 14. The pin 16 is provided with an annular shoulder, identied by the reference numeral 18, which abuts the outside right hand surface of the cup-shaped member 14 and limits the extent to which the pin 16 may enter member 14. Figure 4 shows a plan view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows the relationship of pin 16 with its annular shoulder 18 and the right hand surface of the cup-shaped member 14.

The reference numeral 20 identities resilient means in the form of a spring which is compressed between a back plate 21, which is a portion of the main body 10, and the pin 16.V In this manner, spring 20 biases pin 16 to move into the cup-shaped member. 14 until the shoulder 18 abuts the bottom surface of member 14. The spring 20 then biases both the small diameter socket 14 and the pin 16 to a forward position adjacent the opening 12 provided in the large diameter or bayonet base socket.

The reference numeral 22 identies a lever which is selectively movable between one of two positions and adapts the ash bulb socket to b e used with either the large or the small base ilash bulb, as desired. In Figures 1. 2 and 3 this lever 22 is shown in the position for use with the small base flash bulb. This position is identied in Figure 4 by means of the dotted line position. In Figure 4 the full line position of the lever 22 is the position adapting the flash bulb socket for use lWith the large or bayonet base ilash bulb.

The function ofv lever 22 is to selectively lock the small diameter socket 14 in the position shown in Figure 2 o r to allow this member to move to the right against the bias of springz. With member 14 locked in position, the socket is adapted for Vuse-with the small base flash bulb and with the member 14 unlocked, the socket is adapted for use with the large diameter or bayonet baserflash bulb. Referring more specically to Figure 4, from this ligure it can be seen that lever 22 is provided with a bow-shaped portion identified by the reference numeral 25. Also, the bow-shaped portion 25 has an oifset protuberance or linger 26. Referring once again to Figure 2, the lever 22 and the bow-shaped portion 25 lie in the same plane as shown in Figure 2 Whereas the nger 26 is offset from this plane and extends to the right of the plane of lever 22 to be approximately in the same plane as the annular shoulder 18 provided on pin 16. l

Referring once again to Figure 4, the member 14 is provided with an annular surface or plane identified by the reference numeral 27 which encircles the circular surface or plane identified by the reference numeral 28. The annular surface 27 is provided with an inwardly extending groove 29. With lever v22 in the position shown in Figure 4, that is in a large diameter or bayonet base bulb position, the groove 29 cooperates With the linger 26 and allows movement of the cup-shaped member 14 relative to the linger 26 and the large diameter socket 11. When the lever 22 is moved to the small diameter base position, that is the dotted line position of lever 22 as seen in Figure 4, the finger 26 overles a portion of the annular surface 27 and locks the cup-shaped member 14 in a position in which it is shown in Figure 2.

The reference numeral 30 identities a metallic spring member or spring retainer which is fastened to the cupshaped member 14. The front view of member 30 is shown in Figurev3 and the back view is shown in Figure 4, showing a screw 31 which fastens member 3@ to the member 14. As seen in Figure 2, this spring member 3i) overlies an opening 32 provided on one side of the cupshaped member 14. The other side of the cup-shaped member i4 has an extending positioning ridge, identied by the reference numeral 33 of Figure 3. This positioning ridge 33 rides in the bayonet positioning groove 13 formed in the annular walls of the large diameter or bayonet base socket lll. The natural or normal position of spring 3,0 is to overly the opening 32 in the side of the cup-shaped member i4 such that the extension of the springmember 30 does not extend into the opening providedv in the member 14. However, with the cup-shaped member i4 in the forward position as shown in Figure 2, themember 30 is engaged by a further spring member 34 and is forced into the position shown in Figure 2 wherein the extension of spring member 30 extends into the opening provided in cup-shaped member 14.

As will be described, the spring member 3i) is a retaining means for the small diameter base bulb whereas the spring means 34 is a retainer for the large diameter or bayonet base bulb.

The spring member 34 is provided with an end portion identified by the reference numeral 35 in Figure 2 and this portion 35 cooperates with an eject button 36. Also, the member 34 is provided with a further extension 37 which is biased against the top wall of the body lll'. The member 34 is provided with extending ngers, one of which is shown in Figure 2 and identiiied by the reference numeral 38. This finger 38 is also shown in Figure 4 along with the second linger 39. These lingers extend into and are held by the recesses 40 and 41 respectively formed in the member 1l. The portions of the spring member 34 which can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 have been identified by the reference numeral 34 thereon.

Describing the operation of the novel ash bulb socket, when the socket is to be used with the large or bayonet base flash bulb, the lever 22 is moved to the full line' position shown in Figure 4. As seen in Figure 4 the finger A26 controlled by lever 22 then cooperates with the groove 29 in the small diameter socket 14 to allow this socket and the pin 16 to move back into the housing l() against the bias of the spring 20, or to the right as seen in Figure ,2. Referring to Figure 5, the large diameter or bayonet base bulb 50 is inserted into the large diameter opening l2 such that one of its bayonet extensions identiied as Si, cooperates with the positioning groove 13. This positionlng groove i3 lies on the opposite side of the opening l2 from the spring retaining member 34 and therefore the other bayonet extension 52 of the flash bulb base cooperates with member 34 to both make electrical contact to the outer shell of the flash bulb base and to hold the ash bulb in position in the socket. After taking a picture, the eject button 36, shown in Figure 2, is depressed downward, causing the member 34 to rock about the fingers 3S and 39, shown in Figure 4. This lifts the left hand end of member 34 in an upward direction, disengaging the flash bulb and spring 20 is then free to move the member i4 and the contact pin i6 in a forward direction, ejecting the used ilash bulb.

When the socket is to be used with the small base bulb, the lever 22 is moved to the dotted line position as shown in Figure 4. this corresponding to the position of this lever asshown in Figures 1-3. ln this position the finger 26 overhangs the annular surface 27 formed in the cupshaped member i4 and locks this member in the position shown in Figure 2. When the small base bulb 69 is inserted into the opening l5 as shown in Figure 6, the contact means i6 moves to the right under the bias of spring 2i) the` bulb is pushed into the opening i5 until the annular ridge 61 on the base of this bulb is engaged by the spring member 30. This spring member 3Q then both makes electrical contact to the outer metallic shell of the bulb base and holds the bulb in position in the socket. Here again, after taking a picture, the eject button 36 can be depressed, and as above described, this causes the left hand end of member 34 to move in an upward direction. Since the member 30 is normally biased such that it does not extend into the opening l5, this member 3i) follows movement ofv member 34 and thereby releases the small base bulb. The spring 20 is then operative to eject the bulb by moving the contact member le to the left to the point where the annular shoulder i8 on this member engages the under side of the cup-shaped member 14.

lt can be seen from the above description that I have provided a novel dual flash bulb socket which can be used with either the largebayonet base flashbulb or the small base dash bulb. Other modications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is intended that the scope ofthe present invention be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A socket for use with a photographic flash unit adapted to selectively receive a photoflash bulb having either a large bayonet base or a small base, comprising; a hollow body mem-ber having an opening in one side thereof adapted to receive a photofiash bulb having a bayonet base, a first cup-shaped member adapted to receive a photoash bulb having a small base in the open end thereof, `said cup-shaped member being movably mounted within said body member such that the open end of said cup-shaped member is in alignment with the opening in said body member, a movable contact extending from the bottom of said cup-shaped member to make contact with a photoflash bulb, a compression spring mounted between said body member and said cup-shaped member and biasing said cup-shaped member toward the opening in said body member, and a further member including a lever selectively operable to lock said cup-shaped member in its biased position or to permit movement of said cup-shaped member, said further member being utilized to lock said cup-shaped member to allow a photoash bulb having a small base to be inserted into the open end of saidrcup-shaped member thereby moving said contact, orto unlock saidy cupshaped member to allow a photoash bulb having a bayonet base to be inserted into the opening in said body member thereby moving said cup-shaped member and said contact.

2. A dual ash bulb socket for use selectively with photographic flash bulbs having either a small or a large bayonet base, comprising; a -hollow housing of insulating material, a bayonet-base opening having annular walls extending longitudinally into said housing, a bulbpositioning channel formed along one-side of said bayonetbase opening and adapted to receive one of the bayonet extensions of a bayonet base flash bulb; a first metallic spring member mounted on said housing opposite isaid channel and resiliently extending into said` bayonet-base opening and adapted to engage the other bayonet extension of a bayonet base dash bulb, an eject button movably mounted on said housing and 4engaging said first metallic spring member to cause said spring member to move out of said bayonet-base opening and out of engagement with the bayonet-base flash bulb upon operation of said eject button; a cup-,shaped member having annular walls defining a small base opening at one end thereof, a contact pin opening at the other end of said cup-shaped member, aglongitudinal positioning ridge on the outer surface of said annular walls, said cup-shaped member being movably positioned within the walls of said bayonet-base opening with Vsaid positioning ridge riding in said bulb positioning channel and being movable between la front and a rear position, a

`contact pin movably positioned in the contact pin opening of said cup-shaped member, said contact pin having a Ishoulder limiting movement of said contact p-in into said small base opening; a spring mounted betweenv said housing and said contact pin to thereby bias said contact pin to move into said small base opening to the extent allowed by said shoulder and to thereby bias said cup-shaped member to said front position; yan opening in the wall of said cup-shaped member opposite said positioning ridge, a Isecond metallic spring member mounted on said cup-shaped member and biased to movably overlie Said opening in the wall of said cup-shaped member, said second metallic spring member being engaged by said iirst metallic spring member and moved thereby into said small base opening when said cup-shaped member is in said front position; and manually operable means having means cooperating with said cup-shaped member and selectively movable between a rst position which locks said cup-shaped member in said rfront position and a second position which unlocks said cup-shaped member and allows it to be moved to said rear position, said manually operable means in said rst position adapting the flash bulb socket for use with a small base ash bulb and in said second position adapting the ilash bulb socket for use with a bayonet base flash bulb,

3. A ash bulb socket for use with a photographic flash unit adapted to selectively receive photollash bulbs of either a large or a small base, comprising; a main body member having a large socket opening therein adapted to receive a photoilash bulb having a large base; a member movably positioned within said main body member in alignment with said large socket opening and having a small socket openin-g therein to receive a photoilash bulb having a small base; means for resisting movement of said movable member to allow the insertion of a photoash bulb having a small base in said socket opening, said movable member moving into said main body member when a photollash bulb is inserted into said large socket opening; a latch carried by said movable member and designed to latch a small base photoash bulb in said mov-able member when inserted therein; a spring biased lever urging said latch into latching position and carrying a latching portion extending adjacent said large socket opening to retain a large base photoash bulb in said large socket therein; and a manual actuator engaging said spring biased lever to release said latching portion from a large base bulb if present therein or to remove the bias from said latch to release a small base bulb from said small socket opening if present therein.

4. A ash bulb socket for use with a photographic flash unit adapted to yselectively receive photoash bulbs of either a large or a small base, comprising; a main body member having a large socket opening therein adapted to receive a photollash -bulb having a large base; a member movably positioned within said main body member in alignment with said large socket opening and having a small socket opening therein to receive a photollash bulb having a small base; means for resisting movement of said movable member to allow the insertion of a photoash bulb having a small base in said socket opening, said movable member moving into said main body member when a photoilash bulb is inserted into said large socket opening; a rst latch carried by said movable member and designed to latch a small base photoash bulb in said movable member when inserted therein; a second latch mounted in fixed relation to said main body member and designed to latch a large base photoash bulb in said large socket opening when inserted therein, and a manual actuator cooperable with said rst and second latches to release said rst latch from a small base bulb if present in said small socket opening or to release said second latch from a large base bulb if present in said large socket opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,102,625 Hubbell Dec. 2l, 1937 2,565,492 French Aug. 28, 1951 2,848,701 McKee et al Aug. 19, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 931,147 Germany Aug. l, 1955 

